Oklahoma Baptist University
Shawnee, OK, USA

Reviews

Oklahoma Baptist University

Alyssa from Oklahoma City, OK

a current student here
9 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am a Piano Performance Major with and emphasis on Pedagogy. I have wanted to continue learning and developing my music talents and I have found that it is so easy to do that here at OBU. The classes are amazing! The core classes, classes specific to my major, and the extras are all so interesting, fun, and loaded with information to learn. The professors are so helpful!
Am enjoying being here
I love the entire atmosphere that surrounds the campus. Everyone is SO friendly! My first day here, I was extremely lost, but all I had to do was ask anyone where to go and they personally took me there themselves.
Bang for the buck
OBU is pricey, but is well worth it! Class sizes are small and fitted to the student's needs. They also take into consideration that books are expensive and some classes use the same books two to four semesters to save you money.
Tips for prospective students
Since OBU is expensive, file for financial aid and audition for scholarships available to your college pursuit. Follow every oppurtunity you receive.
If you have a work schedule, let your advisor know about it when you enroll so they can take it into consideration while planning your class schedule. Let your advisors help you - that is what they are there for!! Ask them questions even if it sounds dumb. The advisors are SO helpful at OBU and will gladly answer all your questions.
Also, college is stressful so recruit help in all types of ways. get help from parents, faculty/staff, friends, and fellow students. Have your family clip coupons to help you save money and ask for gift cards for Christmas to help relieve some financial strain. Use your professors office hours to look over papers and grades. Ask the faculty tips that will help you make that A in your toughest class. Get friends to go cheap for that fun night out and ask them to wait for you until you are done studying. Start group studies with fellow students if you are having trouble staying awake while reading that long chapter. Use every possible asset that is available to you to help you succeed in college and reach your dreams.
Great for these types of students
OBU is great for all types of students except for those who do not feel the need to work and study for good grades. There is a major and degree plan for a well-rounded number of people, but it is rigorous training as they prepare you for life and careers.

Zip Bang OBU!

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
OBU professors are amazing! They really know the material they are teaching and they present the information in a way that will get your attention. I feel like I have learned a lot more than I ever did in high school just because of the great learning environment that OBU has.
Am enjoying being here
The atmosphere of OBU is unlike any other school I've heard about. The student body is on the smaller side so once you're here there are familiar faces all around. I came here not knowing anyone and now I have a lot of really great friends. OBU also has a bunch a super fun traditions that set it apart from other schools. From the minute I got to welcome week at the beginning of the year I knew this was where I was supposed to be.
Bang for the buck
Since OBU is a private school, it is no surprise that tuition is on the higher side. I would say, though, that it is money extremely well spent. There is no doubt that you will get a great all around education here and the facilities aren't too shabby either. When you come to OBU you definitely get what you pay for and in my opinion you get a lot more.
Tips for prospective students
If you're thinking about coming to OBU, my main advice would be to come on a preview day or a campus visit. When I visited the campus I knew this was the place for me. Being there and picturing myself in my everyday life on the campus really made me feel at home. It is a gorgeous campus and everyone around is so friendly.
Great for these types of students
The OBU student body is very diverse and welcoming to any and all types of people. If you look around you will probably see people hanging out together that look like they normally wouldn't hang out together, which is great! One of the best things about OBU is the strong christian environment. If you are looking for a place to grow your faith and to deepen your walk with the Lord this a great place to do it! All the professors are christians and there are many things to get involved in that are faith and mission based. From the staff to the campus to the students, OBU is just an all around great place to be.

Brandy

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The professors at OBU are wonderful! They do a great job of presenting information in a way that it can be understood. Also, they expect you to learn, no exceptions. There are multiple opportunities to receive assistance on challenging concepts or homework assignments (in the Student Success Center or meeting with the professors outside of the classroom for example), and because of this the professors will not do you the disservice of lowering the course standards.
Am enjoying being here
I love being at OBU; the atmosphere on campus is so friendly and inviting. You don't have to worry about not having friends, because the other students will always interact with you, especially at the beginning of the school year to help out the new Freshman. And with fun traditions like the Freshman Beanie, The Walk, and Ka-Rip! what's not to love?
Bang for the buck
It's definitely not a cheap school, but you get what you're paying for: a great, liberal arts education. It's money well spent for a well rounded education that applies to spiritual as well as academic life.
Tips for prospective students
Take a tour! Come visit during a Preview Day. It's a great experience that will allow you to get a feel of the school and see what campus is like. If you choose to come to OBU, be sure to go to Welcome Week activities. This is an amazing way to get to know your fellow freshman, upperclassmen, and professors! It will also help you familiarize yourself with campus so you won't be quite so lost on Day 1 of class.
Great for these types of students
Students who want their education to challenge them will flourish at OBU. You cannot skate through without hard work and expect your degree to be handed to you. However, if you want to leave your university at the end of four years knowing you earned your degree and having developed many meaningful relationships along the way, OBU could be the place for you!

Jessy from Decatur, TX

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
OBU is an amazing university, it is small enough to where it is easy to get to know your professors and make friends on campus. It is also inclusive enough to where you can enjoy the college experience through different on-campus extracurriculars or other activities. I am loving the campus and all of my professors.
Tips for prospective students
If you have come from a big high school and didn't like being hidden in the crowd, or came from a small school and don't want to be a small fish in a huge ocean then OBU is perfect for you. The campus is small, yes, it is also very Christ-centered, for instance partying is very rare, there are no big frat parties like you see on TV, it is a close-knit university where you are required to go to a certain number of Baptist Chapels over the course of four years. I was not a partier in HS, and I hated the idea of my college being focused on just that, but OBU gives a loving environment where almost every professor weaves Christ into the lessons and I am really enjoying that. It is not like any college experience you see on tv or movies, it is better.
Academic Rigor
The classes are challenging, of course its college, and the classes are small so the professors will be able to match your face to the name and will be able to see you drifting off in class or notice when you are not in class, but I think that is a good thing, because the teachers really care! They email you and ask how you're feeling when you miss class, because they're worried about you and want you to get the most out of your college classes as possible. Because the classes are challenging I can see an obvious difference in my knowledge for topics that I didn't even know I had a passion about until after I got into the class. If you really want to learn and enjoy the intellectual part of college then OBU is the place for you!
Dorm Life
I have enjoyed dorm life so far. My roommate and I get along alright, we are not the best of friends, but hey what do you expect after only a semester? I really enjoy being able to walk to the lobby and see familiar faces and just nonchalantly join into the group, they don't mind, because I am trying to make friends and so are they so they are totally ok with it. I grew up in a small school, I had known my same friends since kindegarten, so making new friends is coming a little harder for me than others, but living in a dorm gives me the opportunity to meet new people everyday and join in on friend making activities often.
Food and Dining
The caf is newly renovated and the food is pretty good! The pizza, not so much, it is not pizza hut quality of course, but it is still pretty good. The Geiger Center (GC) is where most students hang out, first floor is a hang out spot and convenient store and the second floor is the cafeteria. Downstairs GC is where the convenient store is, where most students can buy things with their Bison Bucks, part of your meal plan, and they can also buy food from the Bison Grill down there and even CHIK-FIL-A!! It is really great. I really can't complain about the campus dining.
What to do for fun
Well I mostly hang out with friends in the lobby or in my room watching movies but the campus has plenty of activites to do for fun. A couple weeks ago I went to the theatre programs musical. I also went to an improv show for the on-campus improv troupe. I really enjoyed both and can't wait for there to be more shows to go to. There are also a lot of social club activities, social clubs are OBU's version of frats and sororities, they don't have their own housing but they do have some nice gatherings. There was also a Ball the other day. YES! A ball, like from cinderella! Super fun, and everyone got to get all dressed up. The campus has a lot of fun things to choose from.
Bang for the buck
A little pricy of a university, because it is private, but the environment is well worth it.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
OBU has a ton of traditions! Unlike most schools OBU does a thing called Welcome Week which is when all freshman move on campus and the first week is kinda like church camp! There are all these fun activities to go to, and all these fun traditions you learn and get to be a part of: The Run-in, Karip Wars, The Walk. My favorite was Karip Wars of course, probably because my sub-group won!!! Karip is this amazing compilation of nonsense that everyone who attends OBU learns. At Karip Wars all freshman, divided into 4 sub-groups, compete against each other, screaming this chant to see who does it the best. OBU has so many unusual traditions I don't even know about some I am sure. But that was my favorite part of welcome week.
Clubs and Activities
So many fun on campus activities, and you're not excluded because you are a freshman! That is one reason I love going to this small university.
Campus Safety
OBU has its own police station right on campus and after hours an officer mans the lobbies of all dorms. They also give out their numbers to everyone that way anyone can call them whenever, for anything, even if they just need an escort from the library to the dorm.

Ashley from Mustang, OK

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
OBU can offer a life changing experience, if you allow it to. Everything from your education to your spirit is taken into consideration, and oftentimes in ways that you would have never thought possible. You will be challenged to think, and it will be difficult, but the beauty is that you are never alone in your pursuits.
Tips for prospective students
Honestly, when first coming to OBU be prepared to embrace the awkward. We're really good at awkward, but you will notice it transform into some of your biggest ideas, closest friends, and most trustworthy colleagues throughout the years. We also do loud really well. We do smiles. We do friendly. We do intense. And we are probably some of the most enthusiastic people you will ever meet when it comes to new students. We will even move you in�¢���¦literally!
Academic Rigor
I have been more challenged in my few years at OBU than ever before in my life. Our professors care, and they care enough to challenge you. We may be a Christian university, but that does not mean that we don't explore things outside of the box. Outside the box, inside it, around it, under it, and even the box itself, all are taken into consideration to prepare students to engage the world beyond. I have had the opportunity to take intensive looks into parts of the world that are typically just swept under the rug. On average professors are extremely approachable and willing to meet you if you are struggling. You aren't just a number.
Dorm Life
Personally, I think dorm life is one of those areas that deserves the biggest gold star. It can get a little loud sometimes, but regardless there is a unity that grows out of living in a building together. Some of those people begin as just the person next door, but end up being life-long friends. People aren't exaggerating when they say, College is where you will meet people you will know forever. Speaking from experience, the staff that works in the dorms are always thoughtfully chosen and have an active role in the buildings as well.
Food and Dining
The best part about the food is how it brings the campus together. The quality isn't always the best, but you definitely won't go hungry. The dining room gets crowded a lot, but you begin to figure out the best times to eat.
What to do for fun
Fun? Ironically, Shawnee isn't much of a college town. We have a Starbucks, but even that closes early. We have loads of campus events that seem to be happening constantly, and when they aren't we are making our own fun. Most of our students get plugged into the community through various outlets which keeps us busy. Being a campus full of hipsters the activities usually consist of: antiquing/thrifiting, rock climbing, coffee, running, Lord of the Rings, coffee, the $2 theatre, and our downtown district.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
If there is one thing OBU does right, it's tradition. By the time you go home after your first semester, you will be speaking a language you didn't know existed. OBU students are known for their quirks, as well as being keepers of traditions. Everything from the Walk you take during the first week, to the Milk Run that you may end up wishing you had never been to. I have caught myself saying a number of times, If you're not an OBU student it just doesn't make sense.
Campus Safety
I have never felt threatened at any moment in my time at OBU. We have campus safety officers that patrol the school grounds all day every day.

Charis from Ponca City, OK

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
OBU is a school focused on loving God and loving people. The people here want to invest in others and push them to be better mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. Choosing OBU as my college has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Academic Rigor
OBU is not a blow off college. The people here are here to apply themselves and learn. Students as well as professors push themselves to be the best that they can. Professors are willing to work with students one on one, so while the classes are challenging you wont drown.
Dorm Life
I love living in the dorms. My best friends are girls that I met on my hall my freshmen year. The dorms are cleaned 6 days a week and I never had any bad experiences. You also are given the opportunity to learn about yourself and grow as a person when you live with someone else in such close proximity.
Food and Dining
The Caf has a bunch of different options- they are different every day. You will never be bored by the options. My favorite station is the make your own waffles one. We also have the option to eat at ChickFilA once a day with your meal swipe. The food used to get a bad rap, but we switched food providers and renovated the entire cafeteria and there are little to no complaints now.
What to do for fun
There are lots of things to do for fun at OBU. We always have events going on that are put on by clubs or the school as a whole. We often have concerts with people like NeedToBreathe or Switchfoot. We have lots of restaurants and places to hang out. A lot of students have fun at the Recreation and Wellness Center playing basketball, working out, or taking a group exercise class. Oklahoma City is only 30 to 45 minutes away, depending on where you are going. My friends and I will go up to the city for the weekend to go to the mall, go downtown,. or watch a movie.
Bang for the buck
The initial price for OBU can be daunting. I had originally thought that there was no way I could afford coming to OBU, but in the end I ended up paying less to come to OBU than my sister was paying to go to UCO (a state school in OK). This was because of the many different scholarships that are offered at OBU. I received an automatic scholarship based on my ACT and GPA that cut out a ton of my tuition. Those have different levels based upon your performance on the ACT OR SAT. I also have a church partnership scholarship and received a KIWANAS scholarship as well. You can get scholarships based on ethnicity, sports, involvement in different organizations, and department scholarships once you are a student. Don't turn away from OBU because of sticker shock. We have great financial aid counselors that are willing to work with you and can provide great options.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There are tons of fun traditions. Many of them involve Welcome Week, but others happen throughout the year. Ka Rip, going to sporting events, TWIRP Week, Christmas chapel, and all fo the events that happen during Welcome Week.
Great for these types of students
OBU is a great option for students who love to live in community, who want to learn about themselves, and who want to learn more about God. I have only been at OBU for a year and a half now, but this atmosphere has already greatly impacted me.
Campus Safety
The Campus Police are always around and patrolling. Most students save their number in their phone incase they ever need it. The Police are willing to do anything from walk someone to their dorm at night or change a tire to real law issues that need to be addressed by the authority.

Abby from Shawnee, OK

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Oklahoma Baptist University has a very welcoming atmosphere and caring student body. The diversity on campus makes OBU stand out from other colleges since we are represented by 35 foreign countries. I love OBU because I was able to build strong relationships with my peers, professors, and God while on Bison Hill.
Tips for prospective students
-APPLY, APPLY, APPLY! The application process is super easy because there is no essay or application fee so it's worth filling out!
-Ask questions and get to know the Admissions Counselor for your area- all of them are super helpful and really care about getting to know you, which makes the search for colleges less stressful
-Come visit campus- OBU is such a great place and it is somewhere you just have to see for yourself. Going on a campus tour can also give you information about campus life from an actual students point of view!
Academic Rigor
Though OBU is a challenging school they offer an ample amount of help to aid students in doing the best they can! OBU has a 13:1 student to professor ratio so it makes it easy to get to know your professors. When I was struggling in a class I had a professor sit aside office hours just to tutor me over the material we were learning and that not only helped me pass the class, but also gained trust in the professors on campus because they are so willing to help their students. We also have the Student Success Center on campus, which is where students can go when they need help with school work. They host study sessions, offer tutoring services for homework, and have writers assistants for essays, thank you letters, and so much more! And the best part is you don't have to pay for it!
Dorm Life
The dorms on campus are well kept and feel like home. I have enjoyed living life with the amazing people I have met from living in the dorms.
Food and Dining
The cafeteria is up to date and has amazing food!! There is also gluten free options to provide students will the most dining options as possible.
What to do for fun
Campus is always full of fun things to do!
We have events like:
-Brushes&Brews- Students paint together and drink coffee
-Open Mic Night
-Spring Affair, Biggie, & Freshman Follies- Talent shows that are held throughout the year. It is a night full of laughs and time with friends!
-Sporting Events!
-Social Groups- Sororities/Fraternities
-Lip Sync Battles
-AND TONS OF OTHER FUN THINGS
Campus Safety
We have campus police stationed on campus for your safety!! Whether you just need them to drive you back to your dorm at night to helping you jump start your engine the campus police are there to help and are super nice!

Anna from Mcallen, TX

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
obu provides such a friendly environment for all students. the professors make it a point to get to know you as a person and are so kind. i couldn't ask for a better mixture of a biblical education and amazing environment!
Tips for prospective students
obu will give out tons of scholarships but make sure to try hard in high school and keep those sat and act scores high!
Academic Rigor
you are definitely getting your money's worth for the education that you will receive!
Dorm Life
dorm life is my favorite part of college! i can honestly say that i could stay in my room all day long and be completely fine with it because my friends are just down the hall and are always in my room. it's like a huge four year sleepover.
Food and Dining
the food is actually really tasty but after having the same choices for two whole semesters you're going to want to change it up a bit so make sure and sign up for the most bison bucks you can to spend at our convenient store on campus.
What to do for fun
there is so many things to do here! we have three different movie theaters and one of them is only a dollar to see a movie. shawnee also has bowling, roller blading, and a good selection of restaurants. if that's not enough the capital is only 40 minutes away!
Bang for the buck
obu is named one of “america’s best value colleges!” i can definitely guarantee you will have the time of your life!!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
there is so many traditions at obu and they are all so fun! for example one is called ring by spring (ladies you'll like this one) guys will usually ask their girlfriend to marry them by spring of their senior year so there's always love in the air! there is also this thing called twirp week and it stands for the woman is required to pay where the girls ask guys out on fun dates. during welcome week freshman are given this beanie that they have to wear throughout welcome week to be identified as freshman and its really fun to be greeted by upperclassmen everywhere you go. the best one is probably this chant that all obu students know. it's called ka-rip and its a bunch of babbling that you have to scream in a huge group when some one calls you out by saying bison go with ka-rip. basically this school is amazing!!
Great for these types of students
every student that loves jesus or is even a bit interested in knowing more about all this is going to have such a blast because we are seriously so crazy and wild!!
Clubs and Activities
there is a club for every type of personality at obu. from the chess and cheese club to muggle quidditch to cab which is a club that puts all kinds of fun productions here.
Greek Life
i'm currently in the process of pledging and i can say i'm having the time of my life!!! there is no hazing here but we do have to do really funny things and they always have us up and going doing all kinds of things. you will definitely have enough sorority's and fraternity's to choose from!
Campus Safety
it never fails! i'll be walking to class and always see campus police. they are so kind and will help you with anything even jump your car if you're having trouble. there is also no curfew but you can have the comfort of feeling safe at night because there is always more than one security per dorm.

Sarah from Yukon, OK

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
OBU truly does integrate faith with learning. As a student, you are poured into in all aspects of life by faculty as well as other students. The relationships and experiences made here have an extremely positive effect on your life!
Tips for prospective students
Get out and get involved. Leave the door to your dorm room open when you are just chilling or doing homework, go eat in the cafeteria, hang out in the student union. Your experience will increase tremendously if you put yourself out there and allow friendships and opportunities to flourish.
Academic Rigor
Professors here are passionate about their students and their success. They know you by name and want you to truly enjoy your learning experience. Classes are difficult, but looking back at the knowledge gained it is well worth it.
Dorm Life
Dorms are where you make some of your best friends. There are always hall events coordinated by the Resident Assistants to allow for deeper relationships with the fellow students on your hall. The Resident Assistants are wonderful and are passionate about the students on their hall and their experience here. Choosing to partake in the open door policy, leaving the door to your room open most of the time, can really allow you to make great friends and experience the aspect of community that dorm life has to offer!
Food and Dining
The cafeteria was renovated last summer and the overall dining experience has improved tremendously. There are so many options, even gluten free, that keep students out of a rut of eating the same things every day. It is great to have the Bison Grill and Chick-fil-a on campus as well for further dining options! Also, the staff that works in the cafeteria and at the Bison Grill are very friendly.
What to do for fun
OBU does a fantastic job of making sure that there are always events for students to go to for a fun, relaxing time. Since Shawnee is a smaller town, it can be hard to find things for entertainment so it is great that there are so many options on campus. From intramurals to lip-sync competitons, it's hard to not have something to do!
Bang for the buck
The experience as well as the education gained at OBU make it well worth the price. Every student admitted is awarded an automatic academic scholarship, which really helps as well. I realize that there are many schools that cost less than OBU, but I cannot even imagining giving up the experiences I have had and the knowledge I have gained for that!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There are so many traditions on campus. A couple include: Ka-Rip which unifies the student body in a unique way, Late Night Breakfast relieves some stress from finals week, and TWIRP week allows you to meet new people and further relationships.
Clubs and Activities
We have added a ton of Club Sports within the last year, we also have organizations like Campus Activities Board and University Concert Series that produce shows for the student body. Intramural Sports are a huge deal here, whether you are playing or just supporting your friends!
Greek Life
We have a few social clubs for both males and females which allow you to meet people and create a special bond with them. They also put on events like barn dances and tailgates for the entire student body!
Campus Safety
I have never felt unsafe on campus. The officers on campus are always super friendly and helpful. I love knowing that security is always patrolling campus and keeping us safe. The first phone number you get on move in day is the security office and they are always there to help, even if your car battery died and you just need a jump!

Khayriyyah from Grandview, MO

accepted here and planning to attend soon
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
This college was really engaging. The admission counselors answered every question I had. I loved it!
Tips for prospective students
Make sure to know what you want to major in. Get all materials in as early as possible. Choose a college based on your preferences, not because the tution is super low or it is close.
Academic Rigor
Theres many things to study. The academics are difficult. I like the choices.
Dorm Life
The dorms are very nice. Theres a lot of space. Theyre chosen by interests.
Food and Dining
They have a variety of food. I like the diffeerent choices. Theres alot to eat in the cafeteria.
What to do for fun
Many things on campus. The campus is very close to oklahoma city and there's many things available in the area.